2011 NHL free agents: Good, bad and ugly

July 8, 2011

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Cam Barker, D, Edmonton – one year, $2.25 million How in the world is Barker set to make about $2.6 million after a season with Minnesota in which he had one goal and four assists in just 52 games? The Wild bought him out after Barker washed out with Chicago. Now the Oilers are taking a chance on a defenseman who had 40 points in 2008-09 but has regressed ever since. Ranking: UGLYClick on the PHOTO to see the rest. TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Sean Bergenheim, LW, Florida – four years, $11 million Bergenheim benefited from perfect timing as he parlayed nine goals for Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup playoffs into a big contract from the Lightning's Southeast Division rival, which needed to spend to get to the salary cap floor. His goal totals the last four NHL seasons have been 10, 15, 10 and 14 and he's never had more than 29 points. Ranking: BADTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Kevin Bieksa, D, Vancouver – five years, $23 million The salary-cap challenged Canucks had to make a decision on which high-priced defenseman to keep and they did well by getting the rugged Bieksa for a hometown discount and letting Christian Ehrhoff walk. We'll commend GM Mike Gillis for also bringing back injury-plagued but effective Sami Salo for one year at just $2 million. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Andrew Burnette, LW, Chicago – one year, $2 million One thing that hurt the Blackhawks chances at repeating last season was that they didn't have a great deal of secondary scoring. Burnette isn't a physical player by any means but he is a virtual lock for around 20 goals and 50 points. At the prices that supporting players are getting, $2 million might be a bargain. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Ilya Bryzgalov, G, Philadelphia – nine years, $51 million Hey, we salute the Flyers for being aggressive and addressing their perennial issue with finding first-rate goaltending. We've seen Bryzgalov flash his star potential with the Ducks and become a Vezina Trophy finalist with Phoenix. But nine years for a goalie who called himself a “goat” after his terrible playoff series against Detroit? Hmmm. Ranking: BAD TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Erik Cole, RW, Montreal – four years, $18 million After three injury-plagued seasons, Cole bounced back in a big way with the Hurricanes as he played in all 82 games and had 26 goals and 26 assists. He's a great competitor but he didn't fare well in his one year in Edmonton. It's a huge commitment by the Canadiens for a player who often gets hurt and has worked best in Carolina. Ranking: BADTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Mike Commodore, D, Detroit – one year, $1 million Cast aside by Columbus last season, Commodore will be a motivated player for the Red Wings as he'll take the place of the departed Ruslan Salei on the back end. It is a low-risk signing by the Wings, who needed to get a bit tougher and meaner in their end of the ice. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Jonathan Ericsson, D, Detroit – three years, $9.75 million The Red Wings are usually lauded for their smart free-agent signings, but we're not sure about this one. Ericsson, a home-grown product of theirs, is getting $3.25 million per season but hasn't come close to fulfilling his potential. Maybe he will in time but it seems like they could have signed him for less. Ranking: BADTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY NHL.COM

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Jean-Sebastien Giguere, G, Colorado – two years, $2.5 million At this stage of his career, “Jiggy” seems to have accepted a backup role and this move could work out well. He can provide support for young Semyon Varlamov and could get more playing time if Varlamov falters. He'll also be back in the Western Conference. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Ed Jovanovski, D, Florida – four years, $16.5 million. Bringing in JovoCop as a veteran presence on the blue line is a worthy endeavor but only at the right price. Instead, the Panthers appeared to bring back their former defenseman with a nice retirement gift. Jovo is 35 and clearly on the decline. A one- or two-year deal easily made more sense. Ranking: UGLY TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Tyler Kennedy, C, Pittsburgh – two years, $4 million Kennedy, 24, is quickly proving to be an indispensable forward for the Penguins, who re-signed him at an affordable price after a 21-goal, 45-point season. The Penguins also did well to bring back Pascal Dupuis for two more years at $3 million. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Tomas Kopecky, RW, Florida – four years, $12 million Again, we understand that the Panthers had to spend a lot of money just to get to the new salary cap floor of $48 million. But to give Kopecky a long-term deal at $3 million per season for one decent year (15 goals, 27 assists in 2010-11) could haunt them. Ranking: BADTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Ville Leino, LW, Buffalo – six years, $27 million Leino sure would have looked great in a Ducks sweater alongside Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne. The signing has the potential to be bad given Leino has just one year of consequence along with a great 2010 playoffs. But we're betting that at 27, he's entering his prime and we commend new Sabres owner Terry Pegula for allowing GM Darcy Regier to finally open the vault. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Nicklas Lidstrom, D, Detroit – one year, $6.2 million Lidstrom could name his price if he wanted to but he's all about winning a Stanley Cup at this stage and he showed that he'll sacrifice some money to help the Red Wings remain a bona fide contender. By the way, the regal Swede just won his seventh Norris Trophy as the league's best at his position. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Joni Pitkanen, D, Carolina – three years, $12 million The former fourth overall pick has found himself with the Hurricanes and the tight-fisted franchise was able to lock up its top defenseman at a reasonable rate when it was thought that he could get really big money elsewhere. He's equally effective at moving the puck and playing a physical, shutdown game. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Marty Reasoner, C, N.Y. Islanders – two years, $2.7 million Reasoner, 34, seems to be playing his best hockey late in his career as he tied a career-high with 14 goals and had a personal-best 32 points in his only season in Florida. The Islanders are slowly on the upswing and this unsung pivot helps deepen their lineup. At $1.35 million, Reasoner would have looked good on the Ducks' fourth line. Ranking: GOOD TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Brad Richards, C, N.Y. Rangers – nine years, $58.5 million The Rangers clearly needed a top-line center and we like Richards a lot. But with big money comes big expectations and the Prince Edward Island native has played his best in the shadows. Besides, he's 31 and it's a nine-year deal. The Rangers' track record hasn't been good with big-name free agents (see Chris Drury, Scott Gomez) Ranking: INCOMPLETETEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Michael Ryder, RW, Dallas – two years, $7 million Ryder might be worth that price if the Stars can get to the playoffs but it appears like he's cashing in more on a strong postseason with the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Let's remember that he's had just 18 goals in each of the last two regular seasons. And Dallas isn't Boston. Ranking: BAD TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Sheldon Souray, D, Dallas – one year, $1.65 million On the surface, it looks like a wise gamble for the Stars as they're not shelling out much in terms of dollars or term while hoping to get a motivated Souray. But while he still has the booming slap shot, the 34-year-old defenseman is always injured and NHL scouts weren't impressed at all with his play for Hershey of the AHL last season. Ranking: BADTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Jose Theodore, G, Florida – two years, $3 million Of all the money the Panthers freely spent on July 1, the acquisition of Theodore could be their best investment as the veteran is coming off a strong season as a backup to Niklas Backstrom in Minnesota and he'll get the chance to win the No. 1 job in Florida. At worst, he'll be a strong backup for prized prospect Jacob Markstrom. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Raffi Torres, LW, Phoenix – two years, $3.5 million Torres is a real wild card in the literal and figurative sense. He's proven that he can cross the line with his free-wheeling physical style but he can also chip in offensively as he's topped 20 goals twice and had 19 another season. As long as the Coyotes play him on the third line and not any higher, Torres is a great fit. Ranking: GOOD TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Tomas Vokoun, G, Washington – one year, $1.5 million Vokoun was supposed to be headed to Colorado for big money. Instead, the Avalanche traded a first- and a second-round pick to Washington for Semyon Varlamov. The Capitals responded by getting a proven No. 1 netminder for an absolute bargain. Ranking: GOOD TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY PANTHERS.COM

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Joel Ward, RW, Washington – four years, $12 million The Capitals paid a lot for a winger who has never scored more than 17 goals and basically cashed in on a strong postseason with Nashville. But we think that they can use Ward's strong two-way game in their lineup, which translates well for a team that is long overdue for playoff success. Ranking: GOOD TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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Ian White, D, Detroit – two years, $5.75 million White is on his fourth team in less than a calendar year, but he is a proven puck-moving defenseman who helped San Jose eliminate the Red Wings in the Western Conference semifinals last season. Needing someone to replace the retired Brian Rafalski, the Wings were able to get this rearguard under $3 million annually. Ranking: GOODTEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

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James Wisniewski, D, Columbus – six years, $33 million You've got to hand it to Wisniewski as he went from being turned down for $4 million per season by the Ducks a year ago to cashing in big-time with the Blue Jackets. And while he's coming off a career-high 51-point season, “Wiz” remains error-prone in his end. He's being paid like a No. 1 defenseman but we all know he's not that. Ranking: BAD TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

Cam Barker, D, Edmonton – one year, $2.25 million How in the world is Barker set to make about $2.6 million after a season with Minnesota in which he had one goal and four assists in just 52 games? The Wild bought him out after Barker washed out with Chicago. Now the Oilers are taking a chance on a defenseman who had 40 points in 2008-09 but has regressed ever since. Ranking: UGLYClick on the PHOTO to see the rest.TEXT BY ERIC STEPHENS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

When it comes to July 1, NHL owners and general managers toss out fiscal responsibility like its week-old garbage.

More than $280 million was spent on that day alone and that was before New York Rangers center Brad Richards, the crown jewel of an undistinguished class, made his $60 million play for Broadway. All of it comes after the big money that some teams shell out to keep their own players from reaching unrestricted status.

Some teams like the Ducks simply wouldn't get caught up in the free-agent madness. Others, like the Florida Panthers, spent lavishly on middling players who are close to being stars.

The Register analyzes a number of signings that took place last week and in the days prior, breaking down which ones were good, which were bad and which were downright ugly.

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